https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/first-contact-end-contract
From First Contact to End of ContractWe know that staff can be a challenge to find, attract, hire, engage, and retain. What makes the staff journey result in forward progress from start to completion of their camp experience? Current...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/learning-live-fire-how-camps-can-adapt-new-normal
Learning to Live with Fire: How Camps Can Adapt to the New NormalIn August of 2018, the Donnell Fire started in Tuolumne County, California — eventually destroying some 60 square miles of forests before burning out on October 1 of that year. It was a stressful...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/games-activities-strengthen-positive-mental-health
Games and Activities That Strengthen Positive Mental Health“Remember this — every member of your staff and every camper in your program has been through a traumatic experience!” One of my absolute favorite ACA National Conference moments came a few years...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/healthy-camp-study-update-ten-promising-practices-healthy-camp
Healthy Camp Study Update: Ten Promising Practices of a Healthy CampSince the outbreak of H1N1 during the summer of 2009, camps have been diligently updating their health and safety protocols and practices for the management of communicable diseases. By accessing and...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/confessions-disciplinarian-how-managing-camper-behavior-can-save-summer
Confessions of a Disciplinarian: How Managing Camper Behavior Can Save the SummerLike many camp directors — and other educators for that matter — I am frequently thrust into the unenviable role of disciplinarian. And, frankly, I don't feel that I'm very good at it. That is my...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/recruiting-interviewing-hiring-ensure-best-best
Recruiting, Interviewing, and Hiring to Ensure the Best of the BestRecruiting, interviewing, and hiring staff is the most important part of your job as a camp director. It is the single most time-consuming and, at times, tedious task you will undertake. However,...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/developing-keeping-great-counselors
Developing and Keeping Great CounselorsIt takes a great staff to make a great camp. Jack Weiner once said: "With the right counselors, camp could be held in a parking lot." When one looks at all of the possible aspects of camp in which to...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/campline/general-guidelines-social-security-numbers-tax-withholding-international-employees-j-1-visas
General Guidelines for Social Security Numbers and Tax Withholding for International Employees with J-1 VisasWe have received numerous questions regarding social security numbers and the need for tax withholdings on international staff. While some questions on this topic can be answered clearly, others are...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/staff-retention-recruiting-revving-season
Staff Retention, Recruiting, and Revving Up in the Off-SeasonBy this point in the year, you've processed your staff evaluations, and you've been thinking about those difficult decisions: "Should I hire her back?" or "This person just didn't cut it; is it time...
https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/camp-songs-history-traditions
Camp Songs — History and TraditionsHarriet Lowe, editor of Camping Magazine, and Rita Yerkes, historical series editor, were kind enough to invite me to write about the history and traditions of camp songs. However, you...